The Indian government has cast doubt on former President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to cease importing Russian oil during a recent phone call. In a statement, the Indian foreign ministry conveyed that it is not aware of such a discussion occurring, despite Trump's assertion that Modi assured him of the commitment.
Trump made his remarks during a briefing on Wednesday, where he claimed that Modi had promised to stop imports to increase pressure on Russia amid its ongoing war in Ukraine. However, Indian officials have currently stated that conversations regarding oil purchases from Russia are still ongoing and have not reached a conclusion.
This skepticism arises as India has positioned itself as a significant energy customer for Russia since the onset of the conflict. The U.S. administration, including Trump, has intensified public and diplomatic pressure on India to reconsider its energy ties with Russia as part of a broader strategy to isolate the Kremlin economically.
In his Wednesday comments, Trump noted that Modi committed to halting oil purchases within a short period of time. However, India's initial response did not directly refute the existence of the call but emphasized their priority is to protect Indian consumers in a volatile energy market.
This latest development continues to add complexity to the diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and India, particularly regarding energy policies amidst the backdrop of the war in Ukraine that began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The Indian government’s subsequent clarification leaves ambiguity about whether a concrete agreement has been reached with Washington.
BBC News has reached out to both the White House and State Department for further comments on this matter, as the geopolitical landscape surrounding energy imports evolves.
